Key mechanism for typographic machines.



P. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MEGHANISM FOR'TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1901.

913,306. Patented Feb. I 1909.

6 SHEET BET 1.

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JANJZ, 1901 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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v JWMQQQLT I F. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIC MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.2,1901.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

P. H. RICHARDS.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1901.

l fififig Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIO MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1901. 913,306, Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Witnesses: java/4 Z01;

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIG MACHINES.

ABPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1901. 913 ,306 Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

mm Wl/fl/ lllllllllli UNITED STATES PATENT FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AMERICAN. TYPOGRAPHIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION I OF NEW JERSEY.

KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHIC MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed January 2, 1901. Serial No. 41,8 3L

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and ,State of Connecticut, have invented certain "new and useful Improvements in Key Mechanism for Typographic Machines, of which the following is a specification.

operated to the exclusion of all others while the particularone operated is under control. For example, it is required to operate from a given leveror key in one instance a lower case character, and in another instance an upper case character. i

. object of the present invention is to furnish mechanism whereby these results may be accomplished.

My present improvements are applicable to typographic machines in general, and they may be used 'in connection with typewriting-machin es as illustrated, for instance, in the drawings accompanying the following specification, but it will be under-- stood that in so'illustrating and describing an embodiment of the invention in such particular class of machines, the applicability of the invention is in nowise limited thereby.

Inthe drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a'planv view of-a typewriting-machine embodying my invention, a part being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, a

' part also'bei'ng broken away in this figure to show the construction at the fulcrum portions of certain rock-levers. Fig. 3 1s a longitudinal elevation of certain feed mechanism and illustrates the same as it appears when viewed from the rear of the machine. Fig. 4 .is a transverse vertical section of the machine on a somewhat enlarged scale, the plane of the section being located just to the rear of the key-board, and the direction in which the section is viewed, being from the rear toward. the, front of the key-board. Fi 5 is a horizontal section on an enlarged sca e, the plane of the section being that indicated by the line aa,. in Fig. 2; certain portions are broken away in this figure,

while certain other portions areremoved.

-chine and shows a keyboard thereof. Fig. 7 is a plan view of' the end portions of a part of a set or bank Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on a plane extending from front to rear of the maportion ad acent to the of rock-levers. Fig. 8 is a similarview of the opposite'end portions of the set of levers. Fig. 9 is a perspective view on a somewhat enlarged scale of a looking, or retaining segment used in the machine. Fig. 10 is a perspective View on a somewhat enlarged scale of a push-rod, a portion be-.

tween the ends of the rod in this figure being removed. Fig. 11 is an elevation on a somewhat enlarged scale of the push-rod.

illustrated in Fig. 10, certain portions being removed, and shows the key and a portion of the foot-piece of the lever. Fig. 12 is a view of the rod, &c. at right angles to Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the rod, &c. as set forth in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a lengthwise section through the rod. Figs. 15 and 16 are cross sections of the rod taken on the planes of the lines bb, 0c, -1:'espectively, in Fi 11, the sections being viewed in the direction of the arrows in that figure and certain portions being removed. Fig. 17 is a section similar to F ig.- 15, but shows a portion of the gnideplate for the push-rod. Fig. 18 is aview of the lower surface of the key or finger-piece shown in Figs. 11 and 14, inclusive, the same being removed from its position on the upper extremity of the push-rod. Fig. 19 is partly a section and partly an elevation upona scale similar to that to which Figs. 10 to 18 are drawn and shows a slightly modified construction of the push-rod. Figs. 20 to 241, inclusive, illustrate on a scale similar to that of the im- Similar characters of references designate corresponding parts in all figures.

In the typeWriting-machine chosen for "the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, B designates the supporting and inclosing framework of the machine. This framework B is of some suitable form and of any desired construca construction whereby such transfer for the exclusion of all others, and to so dispose such group with respect to its actuating device as to render it possible for any individual member of such group, and the actuating device therefor to be brought into proper operative relation.

In carrying out my present invention also mechanism is provided whereby, under the will of the person manipulating the machine the relation of the actuating device to the different members of the group of actu-- device despite the fact that by an alteration of the relation a different part or device will be caused to operate by the actuation of one of the first -mentioned actuating devices. To illustrate; in shifting from the upper to the lower case, or vice versa, in that class of typewriting-machines in which each type is mounted upon a separate typebar, it is plain that while the letter types are changed, still the types for impressing punctuation marks and numbers may be similar for both upper and lower cases. In other words, assuming that but one typebar is involved in printing any single character in the same font in those instances in which types for printing the marks specifie' are the same for both upper and lower cases, then in going from one case to the other certain of the typebars will be changed and other bars operated, while other characters will be printed by the same typebars in both instances. To this end the mechanism aforesaid involves same or analogous purposes from one bar to another may be made in some cases, while no transfer is made in other cases.

The parts hereinbefore referred to as being severally operative from an actuating device or a plurality of the same are herein shown in the form of rock-levers, denoted generally by the number 2, and located side by side in the bottom portion of the easing B.

Preferably the method of mounting the levers 2 will be such as to provide mutual support and guidance for the individual levers; for instance, the end portions of alternate rock-levers may enter and the latter be guided by. suitable slots 2 formed in cross bars 3 and L, which may conveniently,'as herein shown, consist of the front and rear cross frames, respectively, of the main frame 3. The distance between any two consecutive slots being made approximately erases equal to the width of an intermediate lever 2, these latter may be located in the spaces between the alternate levers when placed in position in theslots and be guided in their motions by them.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, the actuating devices before adverted to are represented as push-rods, designated generally by the letter P, disposed in a number of rows extending from the front toward the rear of the machine, or, in other words, lengthwise of the levers 2. They carry, as shown at their upper extremities, keys or marked fingerpieces, designated generally by the letter K. Pressure applied to one of these keys K serves to operatea determinate rock-lever Qselected in the manner and by means to be described later.

As herein illustrated, the severallevers 2 are shown fulcrumed intermediate their ends by stationary rods 6 corresponding in number to the number of push-rods P in each of the aforementioned rows thereof and extending from side to side of the machine where their ends may be secured in any suitable manner to the framework B. To further strengthen these pivotal rods 6 laterally they may pass through apertures in supporting plates 3 on each side of and close to the bank of levers 2. I

It is desirable in the operation of a machine constructed as illustrated that the movement of the several rock-levers 2 at their operative ends, that is, the rear end of each lever, should be substantially the same whether the lever be operated by a push-rod P at one end or the other of the corresponding row or by an intermediate push-rod. For the purpose of attaining this equality of movement, therefore, and as suming that the several push-rods are designed to all have substantially the same amount of depression, those levers which are operated by the push-rod nearest the front of the machine in the several rows may be strung upon that pivotal rod 6, which is nearest the front, while as the leverage tends to decrease as the puslrrods are located further and further toward the rear, this decrease may be compensated for by stringing successive sets formed by the rods in each row upon pivotal rods '6 located successivelyfurther and further towardthe rear of the machine. The pivotal portion of each lever 2 may be in an extension 7 projecting from the edge thereof as shown.

'Each rock-lever 2 reacts against its'resped tive push-rod P, and for the purpose of causing the positive return of the lever and its push-rod after actuation, the former may be constantly urged toward its push-rod by a suitable spring 10, which properly should react at all times against its own particular rock-lever and no other. The construction set forth in Figs. 6 and 7 particularly will-137) kenable this result to be attained, in which figures the springs 10 are located in suitable depressions in a cross-piece 11 extending from side to side of the machine. Each spring bears against the edge of its lever,

while the portions of the adjacent levers with which-the size of the. spring would cause it to contact are recessed to a depth suflicient to permit the play of those levers without aifccting the spring. Coming now to-a description of the said actuating de vices which, as previously stated, consist,

'in the present embodiment, of the push.-

'rods P, they are shown mounted adjacent to the front ends of the rock-levers 2.with which they cotiperai Provision is made whereby the levers and push-rods may be shifted into different relations with respect to each other in such manner as to render, in general, a push-rcalcapable of operating one of those levers when in one position and another lever in another position. For this purpose'they are in the present drawings shown mounted in a carrier, designated generally by the letter C, box-like in form and movable to and fro lengthwise of the rock-levers 2 upon guides 15, by means of a hand-lever 16, secured to a pivot pin 17- which extends through and is journaled in the side of the carrier. This pin 17 has afiixed to it an arm 18 whose lower extremity passes between shoulders 18, 18 upon the main frame B, which constitutes the fulcrum about which the hand-lever is swung to move the carrier. For the correct positioning of the carrier and its retention inan adjusted positionfthe lever. 16 may be supplied with an ela'sticallysupported tooth or detent 19 adapted to enter a notch 20, constituting one of a numherformed in a locking segment 21, (see Fig. 9. v

Thecarrier C may, with advantage, be

- removable from its posit-ion on the frame upon an elastic or spring-like finger 24,

which normally holds the hook in the osition shown in Fig. t, but is capable o beifig bent inward to disengage the hook from the shoulder by means of a bolt or releasing pin 2st, accessible from the exterior of the machine. A pressure upon the pin 24? at each side will permit, it is evi dent, the carrier to belifted fromthe machine. i

Certainty ofuniform action is assured at all times between a push-rod P and the rocklever 2 with which it cotiperates by keeping their contacting surfaces firmly pressed together. Thismay be done by permitting each push-rod P to be forced upward against a shoul ler by means of its corresponding rock-lever spring 10. I

The push-rods P maybe of any desired and appropriate construction" and dimensions; for instance, they may vary in height from front torear of the machine togive the stepped arrangement shown in order to facilitate their operation, and they may have their bodies each formed of a single strip pressed into circular shape as shown in the presentdrawings with-an exterior longitudinal flange 25. If such be their construction, the aforementioned shoulder referred to as limiting the upward movement of a push-rod may be formed by bending said flange 25 abruptly to one side, (see 26 particularly in Fig. 10,) or such shoulder'may be formed by removing a portion of the flange altogether, (see 26 particularly inFi 19.)

The upper plate 27 of the carrier 6 may be perforated with a suitable number of openings in which the several push-rods P are guided, and each'of the push-rod openings in the plate may have a lateral slot 27 for the passage of the flange 25 on the push rod. A side of this slotforms a stop'for shoulder 26, if the construction be such as exhibited in Fig. 10. If, however, the pushrod construction be such asset forth in Fig. 1.9, the push-rod may be passed through the aperture until the removed portion of the flange comes opposite the 'slot- 27 in the plate, when upon turning the push-rod slightly. the flange 25 will be brought out of alinement with the-slot, and the shoulder 26 will coact with the edge of the aperture opening. A key 28 may be secured to the upper end of its proper push-rod in any desired manner.

As set forth in the drawings herein, the lower end of a push-rod P is bifurcated for the insertion and attachment therein of the push-rod foot-piece, designated generally by 30, a number of different shapes of which are shown at 3 ,30 30*, 30 and 30, Figs. 20 to 24 inclusive. The; purpose of this variation will presentlyappear. Each footpiece 30 may pass through a bottom plate 31, by. which means the lower end of the pushrod may be guided.

From the foregoing explanation it is plain thatone or more push-rods P are designed to operate singly any one of a number of rock-levers 2 to the exclusion of the-others, the particular one which is operative from any push-rod being under the control of the person manipulatin the machine. In the particular organization illustrated, the shiftmg of the carrier 0 serves to effect this change of operative relation between a pushrod and the rock-levers 2 designed to be operated by it, by reason of the shifting of the contact ofthe push-rod foot-piece 30 from one lever to anothen It is evident from the foregoing that, as shown, a pushrod is moved bodily to effect the operation of a new rock-lever. This result may be brought about, however, if the bottom guide plate 31 alone is'moved, which may thereore be regarded as a carrier for shifting the contact.

On referring to Fig. 5, which represents the relation between the foot-pieces 30 of the push-rods andthe levers upon which such pieces bear, it will be seen that theline of cross-sectional length of the pieces extends transversely to the lines of length of the rocklevers 2; that is to say, the push-rod footpieces extend across the rock-levers. The dimension of a foot-piece 30 is such as to reach from the lever on one side to the furthermost thereof toward the foot, and is of a height preferably at least equal to the distance each foot-piece moves when it is depressed. This construction results in the operation, during the actuation of a push-rod of that rocklever only with whose raised portion the foot-piece happens to be in contact. These several raised portions 32 on a group of rock-levers 2 with which any particular push-rod P is adapted to col-act are displaced with respect to each other from front to rear of the machine in such manner that,

upon shifting the carrier Cvto move a ushrod backward or forward, this latter will be shifted from one rock-lever to another in that group, and consequently an actuation of the push-rod after such shifting will serve to operate a different lever to that which such actuation would have accomplished before the shifting of the carrier.

To bring the bearing'surface of any particular push-rod foot-piece 30 into the proper position to coact with any one of the rocklevers in its group where such group is not in line with the axis of its rod, it may be necessary to provide a form of foot-piece in which the bearing portion is offset to one side.

Referring to Figs. 20 to 24, inclusive, different forms of push-rod foot-pieces are illustrated, foot-pieces 30 and 50 being adapted to bear upon a lever when the group thereof is in line with the actuating push-rod. The only substantial diflerence between the two is a difference in width levers, trated, different amounts of offsets are given In the present illustration, the

whereby one is adapted to coact with a group composed of a greater number of whlle in the remaininv forms illusto the bearing portion of the pieces.

In general, it is desirable that a shifting from one series of actuatable devices or levers to another for the purpose of operating different types or for any other purpose should not involve a change in all the devices or levers, since some of these actu-.

atable levers may be the same whichever series is'to be rendered operative or font of types or impression devices are used, as, for instance, types for punctuating purposes, and particularly. the rock-lever operated by the push-rod of a spacing-key In such a case the actionof any push-rod P may be confined to any particular rock-lever 2 by lengthening the raised portion 82 of the rock-lever to an amount sufiicient to maintain contact with the foot-piece 30 of'the push-rod during the entire shifting movement of the carrier C.

The present invention being illustrated in an application thereof to a typewritingmachine, the aforementioned actuatable parts, consisting as here described of the rock-levers 2, may be utilized to effect the operation of an impression and feed mechanism. These mechanisms may be of any of the suitable forms well known in the art, or of any other appropriate construction, or that herein illustrated, which will now be described.

Piyotally supported on a platform '50 formed by extensions of the main frame B is a series of typebars, designated generally by the number 51, and connected each bar to its corresponding rock-lever 2 by a link 52. Normally, or when idle, these typebars may rest in a supporting-basket 53, from which a bar is raised when its corresponding key is depressed to operate on or impress a character upon the surfaceof the paper or other material on the platen 54. This platen 54 is, in the present instance, journaled in a frame 55, wherein it may be rotated by means of pressure applied to a thumb-wheel 56, while it is held in an adjusted position by a retaining detent 57. The frame 55 is shown as being mounted to travel along a rail 58 at one side thereof, while at the other side it 'is swiveled to'a bar 59. forming one of the guides for the platen 54, and associated parts which together constitute the carriage, designated generally by 60, A handle may be provided for moving the carriage 60 back to its starting position on the guides and for swinging the same on the bar 59 to expose the impression or printed surface on the platen. v

The mechanism for imparting a step-bystep traversing movement or feed to the carriage 60 may embody an escapement operatioined at its upper end to the carriaink.:63. The movement which would ing substantially in the following mannera i A-helicalspring 61 coiled around a rod.6l"' iournaledin-themain frame B, when under tension, urges the carriage 60 in one direc-- e by a result fromsuch tendenc is,'h oweve'r,- controlled .by a vibratory ratc et-tooth 63 afiixed to an arm 64, supported by an oscillatory lever 65, wh1c l 1 n' turn is pivotally connected to' the main'frame Bor an appurtenance' thereof. Normally the ratchet-tooth 63 is held in a position extending across the lineof move-' ment of'the tooth of a rack-bar Why the lever 65, when the latter is in a position at one: extremity of its movement and toward which it is urged b a spring 66. The rackbar 67 is sup orte 'on'the carriage 60, and

-mounted to s ide thereon to and fro in the lineofthe' carriage travel, but constantly 'urgedi'nthe same direction relatively to the carriage that the carriage is .urged by thespring 61. The tension of spring 61, is, how

ever, greater thanthetension of spring 66;

hence, in the normal or idle condition of the carriage '60 itis held stationary by means of this rack-bar 67 and engaging ratchet-tooth 63, the'former beingv forced by the latter toward and occupying its extreme osition relatively-to the carriage toward t e lefthand thereof as seen in Fig. 3. When, however, a rock-lever 2 is elevated by reason of the depression of its coacting push-rod P,

' its movement "a frame 68 is tilted upward and through an attached lever 69- and an r rm 7 O to which it 'isjointed and which is fixed relatively to the oscillatory lever 65, this latter is swung upon pivot .sufliciently to carry the ratchettooth 63 into the space between contiguous teeth of a second rack-bar 71, fixedly secured to thecarriage or an appurtenance thereof. No anovement of the carriage results from this movement of the tooth 63 from one rack-bar to the other, but the rack-bar 67 having been released springs forward in the direction of the carriage travel by reason of the tension of spring 66. Now, when the actuated rock-lever 2 moves back into its idle or normal position, the frame, 68 follows it, such movementibeing assured, for instance, by a spring 72; The oscillatory lever 65 being now free to move is swung back to its original position by s ring 66 engagewith therack-bar 67. Upon the release of the rack-bar 71 the tension of the spring 61 overcomes the tension of spring: 66, and moves the carriage 60 on its guides until the carriage is stopped from further bythe completion of the possible movement of the raclebar 67, whereupon the carriage comes to rest and a step in the feed movement has been efiected.

tion through the! medium ofan 'arm '62 ratchet-tooth may be moved downward out A free backward movement of the carriage 60 under the-pressure of the hand is rendered possible by pivoting the arm 64L, su pliedwith the ratchet-tooth 63 to the os- Cll atory lever 65, ins'uch manner that the of the way of the rack-bar teeth as the car triage 1s slid backward. ,lhe'proper operative'orupright position of the ratchet-tooth 63 is'determined by a stop 73, toward which the arm 64 is constantly urged by a spring 7 4. -An inking ribbon 7 5 is shown which is -disposed intermediate its take-up rollers 7 6, 76, inproper relation to the printing point on the platen. A guard '77 for the paper passing around the platen may also be supplied. These feeding and inking mechan isms are substantially those embodiedin the well-known Caligraph type-writing machine.

A machine constructed in the manner illustrated and particularly described oper-y ates substantially in thefollowing manner. Assuming the carrier-C to be .in any certain position, av depression of a push-rod P by the exertion of pressure upon its key serves to actuatethat particular rock-lever 2 upon whose raised portion'32 the foot-piece 30 of the push-rod bears. An actuation of the corresponding typebar 51 results and an inked impression is made upon the surface of tlre material on the platen 54, by reason of the interposed inking ribbon 7 5. Simultaneously with the movement of the inner end of the rock-lever 2 the frame 68 has been actuated, serving to shift the ratchettooth 63 from the rack bar67 to the rackbar 71; through the described system of in-' tervening levers and arms. \Vhen this frame 68 drops back into place the ratchet 63 is shifted back to the rack-bar 67, and a feed movement of the carriage 60 takes place by reason of the predominating tension of the spring 61, as and in, the manner alreadydescribed. Supposing, now, that" the carrier C has been shifted b. the manipulation'of the hand-lever 16 at t e side, some of the pushrods P will have been brought into operative relation with difierent rock-levers'2,,while the foot-pieces30 of certain other push-rods will have been merely slid along on the same raised portions 32, so that as a result some of the push-rods in this new position are ada ted to actuate different rock-levers, whi e other push-rods are adapted to operate the same rock-levers as before.

The operation resulting from an actuation of a shifted plush-rod is similar to its operation before t e shifting of the carrler, and which has already. been described.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side each of said levers having-an enga 'ng face, said faces one from the occupying positions di erln other longitudinally of ,sa1 levers, of an actuator extending transversely of all the levers, and means for shiftingthe actuator lengthwiseof the levers to thereby shift it out of cooperative relation with a lever or levers and into such relation vwith another lever or'levers.

2. The combination with a plurality of levers provided with projections extending from one edge of the respective levers and occupylng positions difiering one from the other longitudinally of said levers, of an actuator extending transversely of all the levers, and means for shifting the actuator lengthwise of the levers to thereby shift it out of cooperative relation with a projection or projections on one of the levers and into such relation with a projection or projections on another lever or levers.

3. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side, of an actuator extending transversely of all the levers, and

a carrier on which the actuator is mounted and which is shiftable lengthwise of the levers and is adapted upon such lengthwise shifting to shift the actuator out of cooperative relation with a lever or levers and into such relation with another lever or levers.

4. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side, of a push rod for actuating the levers, a foot piece'secu'red.

to the push rod extending transversely of the levers and having a length measured in such transverse direction, which would enable it to operate all of the levers at each depression, and a keyboard detachably engaged with the keyframe and in which said push rod is mounted and shiftable longitudinally of said levers, each of said levers having an engaging face with which-the foot piece of the push rod is adapted to engage-in some position of the key board.

5-. The combination with. a plurality of levers, actuators associated therewith and each adapted to actuate at will a predetermined lever with .which it is associated, each actuator extending transversely of all the gagiijg face, said faces being arranged in' groups occupying positions differing one from the other longitudinally of said levers, an actuator associated with each group and each adapted to engage at will a predetermined face with which it is associated, each actuator extending transversely of all the levers of the group with which it is asso- 'ciated 'anda shiftable member in which said frame, said actuator extending transversely,

of the levers, each of said levers being provided with an actuator engaging faceand said races being disposed each in a positlon longitudinally of said levers difi'ering from the positions of the faces on the other levers,- said faces being disposed in the .path of movement of said actuator.

8. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side, of a push rod for actuating the levers, a separate foot piece secured to the push rod, and a keyboard shi-ftable longitudinally of the levers anddetachablyengaged with the machine frame and in which said push rod is mounted, said push rod extending transversely of the-levers, each of said levers being' provided with an engaging face and said faces being disposed each in a position longitudinally, of saidlevers differing from the positions of the faces on the-other levers, said faces being disposed in movement of said foot piece.

9. The combination of aplurality of groups of levers,-the members of each group being disposed side by side and each being provided with an actuator engaging extension and said extensions being disposed each in a position longitudinally of said levers differing from the positions of the extensions on the other levers of said group and over lapping one with another in a direction transversely of the levers, of a keyboard detachably'engaged with the machine frame and shiftable longitudinally of said levers,

and an actuator mounted onand shiftable tor associated with eachgr'oup and each adapted to engage at will a predetermined extension of the group withwhich it is associated, each actuator extending transversely,

of all the levers with which it is'associated,

and a shiftable member in which said actuators are mounted and which has a guided movement'in the direction of the length of the path of the levers, said extensions being disposed in the path of movement of said actuator longitudinally of said levers. j

10. The combination of a 'lurality of groupsof levers, the members of each group being disposed side by side and each being provided with an actuator engaging extenaiaeoe sion and said extensions being disposed each in. a position longitudinally of said levers differing from the positions of the extensions on the other levers of said group and overlapping one with another in a direction transversely of the levers, of a keyboard detachably engaged with the machine frame and "shiftable longitudinally of said levers, and an actuator mounted on and shiftable with the keyboard and removable with it from the machine frame, said actuator extendingtransversely of the levers, an actuatol; associated with each group and each adapted to engage at :will a predetermined extensionof the'group with which it is associated,'each actuator extending transversely of all the levers with which it is associated,

and a shiftable keyboard detachably engaged.

withthe' machine frame in whichsaid actuators are mounted and which has a guided movement 'in the direction of the length of the levers, said extensions being disposed in the-path of movement of said actuator longitudinally of said levers.

11. The combination with a plurality of groups of key levers disposed side by side, of. a shiftable keyboard shift-able in the line of length of the levers, a push rod associated with each group of levers, and afoot piece secured to each push rod and extending transversely of the levers in the group with which it is associated, said levers each having'a projection with which the foot piece of 12. The combination of a guide member comprising a bar and a-plurality of interthe associated push rod is adapted to contact in some posltion of the ke boarch spacedparallel guides, a plurality of alternate'levers severally engaging said guides,

and a lur'ality of intermediate levers, each several y engaged between and in. close contiguity to each of a pair of alternate levers.

l3.v The combination with'a set of levers, of a number of push-rods for actuating the same,a carrier onwhich the ush-rods are mounted, a hand-lever for shi in the carrier, a hook ateach side thereo for confining the carrier to its guides, and a pin or belt for releasing the hook to permit the carrier to be removed from its position.

, -14.- The combination with a set. of levers,

of a numberof push-rods for actuating the same, a carrier on which the ush-rods are mounted, a hand-lever for shifting the carrier, a hook at each side thereof for confin in the carrier to 1ts guides,'a pin or bolt for re easing the hook to permit the carrier to be removed from its position, and a detent for locking the carrier in its shifted po-' sition.-. i

1 15. The combination with a set of levers,

of a ush-rod adapted to actuate any one of the evers, a foot-piece for the push-rod extending from side to sideof the set of levers, a carrier on which the push-rod, 1s

mounted and which is adapted. to shift the said foot-piece lengthwise of said levers, a guide-plate for the push-rod constituting a carrier, a hook at each side of the carrier for confining the latter toits movement on its guides, a pinor bolt for releasing the hook to permit the removal of the carrier, a hand-lever for shifting the carrier, and a de tent for locking the carrier in its shifted position. I

16. The combination of .a plurality of 'roups of keys, of a plurality of levers there- 'or disposed side by side and each having a depression-in its upper edge, an actuator associated with each group and adapted to actuate a predetermined lever of the group 'with which it is associated and extending transversely of said group, and a reaction device for each lever bearing against the same and having a portion rojecting beyond the plane of the sideo the lever located in the depression in the contiguous levers.

17; The combination of a plurality of group of said lovers upon being shifted into proper position, such actuator extending transversely of the levers with which it is associated, means for shifting said actuators longitudinally of the levers, said levers having depressions in their under edges and a. reaction spring for each lever bearing against that lever and-having a-portion projectin beyond the plane of the side of the lever located in a de ression in a contiguous lever, and a cross a'r having cavities for holding saidsprings.

18. The combination of a plurality of le vers each lever being provided with an ac tuator engaging prO ection, actuators associated therewith and each adapted to actuateat will a predetermined lever, each actuator extending transversely of a number of levers and having a length measured in such transverse direction which will enable itwithout transverse movement to operate any of the said levers, it having its actuator engaging projection in the path of movement at each working stroke, and a shiftable member in which said actuators are mounted and which actuator extending transversely of a numher of levers and having a length measured in such transverse direction which will enable it without transverse movement to operate any-of the said levers having its actuator engaging pro ect1on in the path of movement at each Working stroke, and a shiftable member in which saidactuators are mounted an'd which has aguided movement in a direction transverse to the movement of the levers, each of said levers having a face with which its associated actuator fa-ces of each group occupying positions -1 erent one from the other longitudinally of said lever, an actuator 'assoclated with each group and adapted to actuate, accord-' ing to its longitudinal position, a predetermined lever of the group with which'it is associated, each actuator extending trans- {ver sely of all the levers with which it is asv sociated, and a shiftable member in which said actuators are mounted and which has aguided movement in a direction transverse to. the movement of the levers.

21. The combination with a frame of a machine, of a detachable keyboard frame engaged with said machine frame, a shift-- able keyboard carried by said frame, levers,

:and lever operating keys mounted on the keyboard and removable from the machine frame and the levers with the latter.

.' 22. The combination with a pluralityof levers disposed side by side, of a machine I frame within which the same are mounted,

a detachable keyboard frame engaging with said machine frame, keys for actuating said levers and carried by said'keyboard frame and removable from the machine frame with the latter, of a push rod for actuating the levers, a foot piece secured to each of the push rods and extending transversely of the levers adapted to be actuated thereby.

23. The combination with a series of impression devices, of a series of levers equal in number and each permanentlyv connected with an impression device, said levers having longitudinally disposed engaging faces of vvarying lengths, a series of keys less in number than the number of levers and for engaging said faces upon the levers, and

- levers and permittingsome of the same to be universal to each complement.

24:. The combination with a plurality of levers disposed side by side, of a keyboard detachably engaged with the machine frame and shiftable longitudinally of said levers, and an actuator mounted on and shiftable with the keyboard and removable with it from the machine frame, said actuator extending transversely'of the levers, each of said levers being provided with an actuator engaging extension and said extensions being disposed each in a position'longitudinally of saidlevers differing from the positions of the extensions on the other levers and overlapping one with another in a direction transversely of the levers, said extensions being disposed in the path of movement of said actuator longitudinally of said levers.

25. The combination with a series of impression devices, a lever for each impression device, a series of keys less in number than the levers, andmeans for shifting the keys, the relation between the keys and levers laing such that each of a number of the key will in each of the shifted positions ha "e en agement with the same lever and 830:. of the remainder of the keys will in each of such positions have engagement with a different lever for changing a portion only of the active complement of the levers.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

, Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, C. E. Voss. 

